Birchbox February Review
Yes! My Feb Birchbox finally came! There was a delay because of Nemo and such which is totally fine but then it got to Dallas on the 15th and just sat there! The tracking site said it would come on the 18th and when it didn't come I was bummed- it came today (19th) but I just wish I could have just picked it up myself at the post office! I need to try these products so I can do my Ipsy vs. Birchbox matchup!
*Birchbox:
Type: Beauty Box
Cost: $10/month includes shipping
What is it?: Every month you receive a box of 4-6 beauty and lifestyle products. Each month there are about 30+ different boxes that you might be sent which makes each month a surprise. Birchbox is a great forum to learn about and discover new products and brands. Birchbox has a points system given when a subscription plan is purchased, reviewing products, and buying full-size products in their shop. Every 100 points can be used as $10 off. Use my referral code to get started but know that Birchbox has a waiting period of usually 4-5 weeks.
A box in a box- it's always a box in a box which I'm never a huge fan of. I mean- what a waste!
At least the boxes are always pretty- a lot of people up-cycle them into things- I saw a jewelry box made of these once.
This month's theme was the same as other Beauty Boxes: Red Carpet Ready. I actually don't know how it transferred into my box but whatever.
Ok, so pat myself on the back- I did NOT peek this month!!! I DID look through the 40 different versions of the boxes they sent out but didn't check out my own haul so this was actually a surprise for me!
And there is the big reveal!! At first I only saw three items with the chocolate and was bummed. But the Birchbox mini-box (so 3 boxes total?) held the nail polish! I ended up receiving box #8 and while there were some that I would have liked more I was still pleased and more importantly relieved to not have gotten a few of the 40 boxes (eek).
#1- Miss Jessie's Pillow Soft Curls. This is the one thing I wasn't stoked for at all. In almost ALL of the 40 boxes there was something for curly hair or to make curly hair and as someone with medium-fine hair who doesn't really curl her hair, I was not excited. This is supposed to help get big, soft, curls which is something my hair doesn't do. I can get little curls but not big- it's just not in my hair's genes. I also kind of hate foil samples since I can't re-close them. The full-size is $22. Price: $2.59
#2- Color Club Nail Polish in Wild Cactus. So this little polish is the second color club polish I've gotten from BB but I'm not complaining. I have a color close to this- but not exactly and it is a nice color- excited to try it on. Full size is $8. Price: $4
#3- Ghiradelli Milk Chocolate Caramel. This is an extra little treat that came in all the boxes this month and I took a pic of the box the polish came in too. No complaints- it's good. And it is really defined as an "extra" and not one of the box's samples. I also took a pic of the box the polish came in which is perfect for re-gifting. Price: $0.43
#4- Vasanti Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator. I didn't really even know what this was at first- uh rejuvenator? Then lightbulb! It's a face cleanser- and I am so excited to have it. You may think- um face cleanser? And this may be a "to each his own" type of thing but cleansers are something I don't have much experience in. I used Aveda forever and when I switched to washing my face with my Clarisonic (love) I used their daily cleanser and then another one they make that is gentler. As in I have really only tried two brands- I actually just got a sample of a new cleanser in my latest Sephora haul because I wanted to try a new cleanser and ta-da here is one in my Birchbox. It's an exfoliating cleanser so I'm a bit nervous it may be rough with my Clarisonic but I can't wait to try it! It uses microderm crystal and papaya enzymes to brighten skin. Full size is $34. Price: $5.67
#5- Lancome La Base Pro Makeup Primer. Birchbox just started selling/providing Lancome so they were featuring 4 (I think) products including two mascaras and the makeup remover. A lot of people were bummed they didn't get any Lancome products so I guess I had a lucky box. Now, I have said it many times that I ALWAYS get makeup primer samples in boxes and here's proof- 2 beauty boxes this month, 2 primers. And like I have said I love my current one BUT I will give this oil-free primer a try because 1. I like Lancome and 2. It's clear! I am sooo sick of tinted primers. I feel weird wearing them- maybe it'd be ok with a BB cream but it's just weird to have some goopy tinted thing on your face that doesn't match your coloring. Full size is a whopping $42. Price: $12.07
*Side note for #5: the card from Birchbox calls this "Le Base" but it is actually "La Base." Oof- a little sad to not even write your product's name right.
Verdict: I valued this box at $24.67 although if you add in the money value you get in points for reviewing* it is $30.67. Obviously, this is more than the $10 I paid. The majority of this value came from one product though which is a bit strange. I am excited to try the cleanser and primer and we will see how the polish works. Really though I received four products and not one was make-up. I actually haven't got make-up in a few months (I don't include primers btw). I'm happier with this box then last month and to be honest this month there weren't great boxes suited for me. I am surprised that the "Red Carpet Ready" box didn't have anything to make your look pop though. I tinkered with my profile a bit though since the last box and I think that helped so I may tinker more!
*For those who are new to Birchbox OR haven't done this yet- take advantage of reviewing your box's products to earn points- 10 for each product. Click the tab marked Box and then click on each product and then "Write a Review." Make sure the review page is a pop-up NOT a new page- one is a earn points review and one isn't. If you are confused let me know and I will put up some screenshots.
Type: Beauty Box
Cost: $10/month includes shipping
What is it?: Every month you receive a box of 4-6 beauty and lifestyle products. Each month there are about 30+ different boxes that you might be sent which makes each month a surprise. Birchbox is a great forum to learn about and discover new products and brands. Birchbox has a points system given when a subscription plan is purchased, reviewing products, and buying full-size products in their shop. Every 100 points can be used as $10 off. Use my referral code to get started but know that Birchbox has a waiting period of usually 4-5 weeks.
Disclaimer: Post contains affiliate/referral links.
Posts
I'm soooo glad I unsubscribed to this box. :/ I don't need anymore facial cleansers, primers or nail polishes. I subscribed to the POPSUGAR box instead. Granted, it is more expensive, but I think it'll just be more fun!
ReplyDeleteHave you tried Ipsy OR Wantable Co.- it's more about actual makeup! I get PopSugar as well- I just posted a review the other day.
DeleteYay for not peaking! I love that you did a price breakdown. I always wonder... why it never occurred to me to do the math, i do not know. All in all looks like a pretty good box! Love that nail polish especially!
ReplyDeleteI used to always wonder too about the prices- it's really interesting how one product can pay for the whole thing! And yes- so proud of myself for not peeking- I ALWAYS do!
DeleteI always say with Birchbox, some months are way better than others! Looks like you got some interesting products to try though!
ReplyDeleteToo true. I've heard if you change your profile to seem super adventurous you can get better products- this box is pretty good though especially since I've had busts months.
DeleteI received theVasanti sample in a previous Birchbox and I love it, I'm planning on buying it when my sample runs out. I had a totally different box- where on the site can you see the different boxes?
ReplyDeleteGood to know- haven't tried it yet. Unless someone posts a list of all the boxes (which I didn't see this month), you can click on your box page then scroll down to the complete box pics and click on the month you want and you will see that the url ends in boxX- you can then type in all the numbers to see all the boxes. That is the difficult way to do it. Mainly people post lists.
DeleteI love your reviews of each product - so detailed it almost makes me feel like I got the box and tried the products myself...but I would have been much more thrilled with your box that I was with mine!
ReplyDeleteThat is always the question- What if I had gotten box X? I'm going to start doing blog linkups with other BB bloggers. Yeah- your box wasn't great to me either- I got that perfume sample last month ugh no good.
DeleteI was so happy with my box this month but Being a fine haired girlie and thats def part of the profile on BB I would have been disappointed to get the pillow soft curl product as well.
ReplyDeletei wish i'd gotten the lancome primer in my box! thanks so much for linking up for birchbox brag!
ReplyDelete